7/25/16 Member Missionaries y Baptisms

Hola todos,

I hope everyone is doing well and that yall have been able to see the hand of God in your lives. This last week was full of fun times. We were able to have three baptisms in Calafate. Its getting colder down here and I am blessed to have a nice heater and sleeping bag. We eat Fideos con Tuco everyday which is basically spaghetti but better because we make it good;)  

My message today is going to be simple and involves all of you to do take a action. All three of our baptisms this week ask one specific member to do the baptism ordinance. Hermano Correnel is a special man. He has been doing exactly what "us" the missionaries have been asking. He has been doing missionary work. Nothing crazy he barely can make it Church on Sunday because of his work. He works everyday all day so how can he be doing Missionary Work? Hermano Correnel just tries that is all he does. When he sees someone he knows is investigating the church he talks to them about the church. He does not have fear and if he does he has a enough faith to go and do like Nephi! So this week go and do and remember the promise we have in Nephi 3:7 that God we always provide a way to accomplish His will! Go and be a member missionary through the simple acts of friendship and love!!

Well this is my last week in Calafate if I get transferred. I have to say bye to everyone and it is going to be hard. I love this city and Calafate will forever always be my home of Argentina. Spanish is finally getting more natural and I can be myself completely in Spanish. This blessing is one I hope I will not take for granted.

I know that this church is true and through the gospel of Jesus Christ we can all find happiness. I know that Christ lives right now and that He runs His church through the prophet Thomas S. Monson. I know He is called of God and we have the opportunity to sustain him. Do as the primary song says and Follow his Counsel. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I have struggled to dive into its pages and I challenge myself and you to make a goal to study and use its words more this week! I love you all and I know Christ loves you too. Through His Atonement we can all be cleansed of our sins. I have felt that power and invite you to feel it but making a change to get closer to Him. You can do it! I know it is true!! 

Con Amor,

Elder Saunders 

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See it. Feel it. Trust it.

Baptism fotos and a selfie or two

more baptism, elder tiffany and his glowing hand, shadows, and a bunch of members saying bye to elder cano!!! 

7/18/16 Hola todos and fun pics

Hola todos,

This last week was well interesting. The first part of the week was pretty normal. We taught a few lessons, had a personal defense class, and just partied hard while working hard at the same time! Then on Thursday we left for Rio Gallegos. There we had our interviews with our new mission president. President Salerno is awesome and his wife is my favorite. She only knows Spanish so we are going to become a more Argentine mission while speaking Spanish always. We got to know President and Hermana Salerno and then we had interviews with the both of them. I learned that the spirit will always be with you as you are trying and that we should try to be worthy of trust and not just worthy of being loved!

Then we traveled home and I got sick! So the last few days I have spent time pondering my life in my bed. I always thought being sick would be nice. Getting a lot of sleep, no walking, and just time to relax. However God knows me and was like hey okay get sick and have fun;) In true honesty it is no fun being sick. So be grateful you have a busy schedule and are not sick!!

Then yesterday all i did was go to church and it was amazing. The spirit was there and we are getting on step closer to having a ward down here in Calafate. To get a temple down here Calafate has to become a ward. We need about 30 more active assistance and then boom!! The best feeling is seeing your converts show up every week. I am sooo proud of them and how much the have changed to live the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Well i know this Church is true! It is that simple sometimes. I invite all of you to pray one more time if this Church is true and I know that you will receive an answer! Pay attention to the simple feelings as you strive to change your life one little step at a time. God will bless you as your put your Trust in him! I love you all and I hope that all is well up in the warm part of the world! 

Con Amor,

Elder Saunders

p.s. forgiveness is key i saw that this week with a member family! just forgive and forget like Christ!:) les amo!!!!!!  

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See it. Feel it. Trust it

bus fun this is the bus we take everytime we travel well its always a different bus but they all look the same

7/11/16 Zone Meeting and Mate!!/ pics of the adventure

Hola mis amigos,

Well, to start I first want to say that I know this church is true and that no matter what goes on in your life it will always be true! This last week was amazing and I had a lot of fun. The first part of the week we were in a trio because Elder Cano our Zone Leader went up to Comodoro for Consejo. It was the first meeting with our new mission President. I have not met him yet but we are having interviews this week, so I will let yall know how they go next week. 

We also had Zone Meeting and that meant we got to travel to 28 de Noviembre!! It is a four hour bus ride but the night before I got a little stomach bug so I was scared I was going to die on the way there. However thanks to lots of prayers I made it safe and sound. We found out that we can now drink Mate!!!!!!! It is bitter but good. I feel a little more Argentine now. Everyone drinks it and I am crazy happy that we can drink it too! 

Alright you members you have a little competition for the best member missionary.This week our Branch President Presidente Ortellado texted us saying that he found one of our investigators that we have been looking for for like well forever! He then continued to say that he set a baptismal date with her!! Entonces the invitation this week is to do the same. Go put a baptismal date or at least try to do some missionary work!! I know you can do it it is scary but fun! You will be a lot more happy as you strive to serve others and bring the gospel! 

On Sunday or I guess yesterday we as us missionaries had to run all of church. All the members of the Branch Presidency were gone either on vacation or had to work. So Elder Araujo gave a lesson and then we all gave talks. We talked on Charity, Missionary Work, and of course Temples. Our goal is to have a temple down here in the Patagonia. Our message was through missionary work and having charity we can obtain the goal as we work as one... Missionaries with Members! 

 One thing I learned this week is the importance of being obedient. My first six months of my mission could have been done with a little more obedience to the rules of the mission. Yes all of them not just the ones that sound cool or easy to follow. While in 28 de Noviembre and on splits with Elder Applegate we taught a lesson to a family that was planning a party. The things they were planning were very sinful to say the least. However the kids said that they wanted to get baptized but first sin a bunch. This made me think how we just pick and choose the commandments or "rules" we want to follow. To me it seemed so dumb to choose to sin then get baptized, but sometimes I do the same thing with the rules of the mission. I guess I want to say that I know all the commandments and rules in the church are there for a reason. Obey them and I will do my best to do the same with you! 

I know that this Church is true. That the temple is really the house of God. He is there as we walk the halls. He loves us more than we can even imagine. The Scriptures ring true with the word of God. Search them and you will find peace and happiness. Do all you can to walk in the ways of righteousness, and He will bless you and your family. I know this to be true and know that all will be well as we do as my grandmother of old said, " Carry on, Carry on" I love you all and thank you for the support! 

Elder Saunders de Calafate 

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See it. Feel it. Trust it.

7/4/16 Small Miracles y Prayer

Hola,

This week went by fast and we were able to get a lot done while having a lot of fun. I have looked back at the first quarter of my mission with happiness in what I have been able to accomplish with the Lord on my side. On Thursday I completed six months in the mission. It really does not feel that long and it is crazy how fast time passes in the mission. Calafate has shown me a lot, and I believe I have grown spiritual, physically, emotionally, and basically have become just a bit closer to our Heavenly Father. 

I want to share a little bit on what I learned from prayer and fasting. I had the opportunity to pray a lot this week. There have been a lot of things that I have wanted questions to and through the prayers and fast that I did I was able to find the answers that I know are according to our Heavenly Father´s plan for me. One thing in particular that I have been praying for is what we as missionaries can do for our investigator Luis. Luis has recently turned 18 and can be baptized. He had not been able to before because of his parents. However something happened a few months ago with a member family, and he can not come to church anymore according to law. However we felt like we needed to ask our branch President for help. With the help of him and his work at the police station Luis is able to come to church and he is getting baptized on the 16th of July!! I am so lucky and blessed to be in an area with prepared people. 

As well this week we taught Rosa our investigator that told us she has seen the first vision imagine in a dream. So ya she will get baptized she just cant come to church because of a inflexible work schedule. Our other investigator Sebastian came to church yesterday for the second time and says he wants to stop drinking and smoking. Pedro is finally walking and is about to leave the hospital. Again I am so blessed to be able to spend another transfer here in Calafate. Seeing these small but mighty miracles help my testimony grow more than anything else. 

We also helped a Hermano build his house this week and hopefully he can get most of it done before the snow comes. He is the secretary in the branch and the only member in his family. What a stud eh?? 

Well everyone I am doing well down here in the Patagonia. Not every moment is bliss and glamour, but we are trying to do our best. I know that as we strive to do our part we will be blessed for trying. God magnifies our efforts and puts them into His will. I know that prayer is real. We can talk to our Heavenly Father. Yes our Father literal Father. This blessing has and will help me in my life. I know the Holy Ghost can guide and touch your life. Pray for that guidance and all will be well. This Church is true! It is Christ´s church and He is in charge. Remember that and your troubles will be put at peace. I know that to be true. I love you all and hope that you all can strive to do the simple things to bring you complex and huge blessings. Isn´t that cool how our Father works? Les amo muchisimo!!!

Con Amor,

Elder Saunders 

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See it. Feel it. Trust it.